Robust wrench

ABSTRACT

A wrench includes a handle, a clutch, a detent, a controller, a gear and a C-ring. The handle includes an annular head defining a circular space, a pothole not overlapping the circular space, a channel for communicating the circular space with the pothole, a recess and an annular groove both defined in a wall of the circular space. The clutch includes two claws put in the recess and a spring put between the claws. Each of the claws includes a toothed face and a rod. The claws can easily be put into the recess since the rods can be moved through the channel. A controller is put rotationally in the pothole for moving the rods. The gear is put in the circular space. The gear includes a toothed face for engagement with the toothed face of one of the claws. The C-ring includes an external edge put in the annular groove, an internal edge for retaining the annular gear in the circular space and a gate projecting from an upper face for blocking the channel.

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)on Patent Application No(s). 92114490 filed in TAIWAN on May 29, 2003,which is(are) herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a robust wrench.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 380471 discloses a conventional wrenchincluding an annular head 20 and a grip 21 extending from the annularhead 20. The annular head 20 defines a space 22, a recess 23communicated with the space 22, a hole 24 communicated with the recess23, a hole 25 co-centrically communicated with the hole 24 and a hole 26eccentrically communicated with the hole 24. The space 22 partiallyoverlaps the hole 24. A clutch is put in the recess 23. The clutchincludes two claws 40 and a spring 43 between the claws 40. Each of theclaws 40 includes a toothed face 41 and a rod 42. An annular gear 30 isput in the space 22. The annular gear 30 includes a toothed internalface 31 for engagement with a nut or a head of a bolt and a toothedexternal face 33 for engagement with the toothed face 41 of one of theclaws 40. A positioning device 60 is put in the hole 26. The positioningdevice 60 includes a spring 61 and a ball detent 62. A disc 50 is put inthe hole 24. The disc 50 includes a central hole 51 through which a boltis driven into the hole 25. A recess 52 and two recesses 53 are definedin a lower face of the disc 50. The rods 42 are put in the recess 52.The recess 52 includes two opposite walls in contact with the rods 42.The ball detent 62 can be put in one of the recesses 53. A handle 54 issecured to the disc 50. However, the annular gear 30 is likely to escapethe space 22 since it is retained only by means of a portion of the disc50.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problem encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a robustwrench.

According to the present invention, a wrench includes a handle, aclutch, a detent, a controller, a gear and a C-ring. The handle includesan annular head defining a circular space, a pothole not overlapping thecircular space, a channel for communicating the circular space with thepothole, a recess and an annular groove both defined in a wall of thecircular space. The clutch includes two claws put in the recess and aspring put between the claws. Each of the claws includes a toothed faceand a rod. The claws can easily be put into the recess since the rodscan be moved through the channel. A controller is put rotationally inthe pothole for moving the rods. The gear is put in the circular space.The gear includes a toothed face for engagement with the toothed face ofone of the claws. The C-ring includes an external edge put in theannular groove, an internal edge for retaining the annular gear in thecircular space and a gate projecting from an upper face for blocking thechannel.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description inconjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration ofembodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrench according to a first embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the wrench of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the wrench of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a wrench according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a wrench according to a third embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1˜4, a wrench 1 according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention includes a handle 10, an annular gear 20, a clutch30 and a controller 40.

The handle 10 includes an annular head 11 and a grip (not numbered)extending from the annular head 11.

The annular head 11 defines a space 12 and a pothole 13. The space 12 isin the form of a large circle. The pothole 13 is in the form of a smallcircle not overlapping the large circle. The space 12 is communicatedwith the pothole 13 through a channel 15. A recess 14 and an annulargroove 16 are defined in the wall of the space 12. The recess 14 iscommunicated with the pothole 13. A hole 17 is defined in the bottom ofthe pothole 13.

The clutch 30 is put in the recess 14. The clutch 30 includes two claws31 and a spring 32 between the claws 31. Each of the claws 31 includes atoothed face 33 and a rod 34. The claws 31 can be put into the recess 14since the rods 34 can be moved through the channel 15.

A positioning device including a spring 18 and a ball detent 19 is putin the hole 17.

The controller 40 is put in the pothole 13. The controller 40 includes adisc 41 and a C-ring 42. The disc 41 includes a recess 43 and tworecesses 44 all defined in a lower face. The rods 34 are put in therecess 43. The recess 43 includes two opposite walls for contact withthe rods 42. The ball detent 19 can be put in one of the recesses 44. Aridge 45 is formed on an upper face of the disc 41. The disc 41 definesan annular groove 46 so as to receive an internal edge of the C-ring 42.The wall of the pothole 13 defines an annular groove 47 so as to receivean external edge of the C-ring 42.

The annular gear 20 is put in the space 12. The annular gear 20 includesa toothed internal face (not numbered) for engagement with a nut or ahead of a bolt and a toothed external face 22 for engagement with thetoothed face 33 of one of the claws 31.

A C-ring 21 includes a gate 23 projecting from an upper face. The C-ring21 includes an external edge put in the annular groove 16 and aninternal edge for retaining the annular gear 20 in the space 12. Thechannel 15 is shut by means of the gate 21 23.

FIG. 5 shows a wrench 1 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention. In the second embodiment, the disc 41 includes a rod 48projecting from the lower face. An annular groove 49 is defined in therod 48. The rod 48 is inserted through an aperture 50 defined in thebottom of the pothole 13. A C-clip 51 includes an internal edge put inthe annular groove 49 and an external edge for abutment against theannular head 11. The second embodiment is otherwise identical to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a wrench 1 according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. In the third embodiment, the disc 41 includes a hole 52defined in the lower face. A bolt 53 is driven into the hole 52 throughthe aperture 50. A gear 24 is put in the space 12. The gear 24 includesan insert 25 projecting from a lower face. The insert 25 can be fit in asocket (not shown) that can receive a nut or a head of a bolt.

An annular groove 49 is defined in the rod 48. The rod 48 is insertedthrough an aperture 50 defined in the bottom of the pothole 13. A C-clip51 includes an internal edge put in the annular groove 49 and anexternal edge for abutment against the annular head 11. The thirdembodiment is otherwise identical to the second embodiment.

The present invention has been described via detailed illustration ofembodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from theembodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the presentinvention defined in the claims.

1. A wrench including: a handle including an annular head defining acircular space, a pothole not overlapping the circular space, a channelformed in the annular head for communicating the circular space with thepothole, a recess and an annular groove both defined in a wall of thecircular space with the circular space and the pot hole disposed meetingat a line of intersection; a clutch including two claws disposed in therecess and a spring disposed between the claws, the claws each includinga toothed face and a rod, wherein the claws can easily by inserted intothe recess since the rods can be moved through the channel: a controllerrationally disposed in the pothole for moving the rods; a gear disposedin the circular space, the gear including a toothed face engagement withthe toothed face of one of the claws; and a C-ring including an externaledge disposed in the annular groove, an internal edge for retaining theannular gear in the circular space and a gate projecting from an upperface for blocking the channel.
 2. The wrench according to claim 1wherein the gear is an annular gear including a toothed internal face.3. The wrench according to claim 1 wherein the gear includes an insertprojecting from a lower face.
 4. The wrench according to claim 1including a detent disposed in a hole defined in a bottom of thepothole, and the controller defines two recesses for receiving thedetent.
 5. The wrench according to claim 1 wherein the controllerincludes a disc disposed rotationally in the pothole.
 6. The wrenchaccording to claim 5 wherein the disc defines a recess for receiving therods.
 7. The wrench according to claim 5 wherein the controller includesa ridge formed on the disc.
 8. The wrench according to claim 5 whereinthe controller includes a C-ring with an internal edge disposed in anannular groove defined in the disc and an external edge disposed in anannular groove defined in a wall of the pothole.
 9. The wrench accordingto claim 5 wherein the controller includes a rod projecting from thedisc and through an aperture defined in the annular head, an annulargroove defined in the rod, and a C-Clip including an internal edgedisposed in the annular groove and an external edge for abutment againstthe annular head.
 10. The wrench according to claim 5 wherein thecontroller includes a hole defined in the disc and a bolt driven intothe hole through an aperture defined in the annular head.
 11. The wrenchaccording to claim 1 wherein the C-ring includes a gate projecting froman upper face for blocking the channel.